Jesus Is The Way To Forgiveness
Text: John 14:1-7
Introduction: We have seen that Jesus is The Way to a better life, even here on earth; but, much more importantly, Jesus is the way to forgiveness for our sins! The purpose of this message is to help us to better understand why we need forgiveness and how Jesus provides the way to forgiveness. It is important, then, that we begin by properly defining sin.
I. THE DEFINITION OF SIN
A. Some misconceptions of sin:
1. Some believe sin is nothing more than a violation of human relationships
2. Some would tell you that an action is only sinful if:
a. It is frowned upon by society
b. It violates their own conscience
c. It is harmful to someone else
3. These misconceptions lead many to misunderstand how the problem of sin can be corrected.
a. Some believe that correcting sin involves nothing more than making things right with other people
b. This kind of thinking makes people think they are forgiven of all past actions by simply changing their behavior.
B. The Biblical definition of sin:
1. The Bible defines at least three different types of sin:
a. Sins of commission - The direct violation of God’s Law - "Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness."(I Jn 3:4)
b. Sins of omission - Failure to do what is right - "Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins." (Ja 4:17)
c. Violation of one’s own conscience - "the man who has doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin." (Ro 14:23)
2. Sin is more than simply a violation of human relationships. Though it often involves that, it is more serious in that it involves God and His Will for us.
3. To understand the seriousness of sin, we only need to understand its consequences:
a. "The wages of sin is death" (Ro 6:23)
b. "But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars--their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death." (Re 21:8)
c. Think about this: "All human sin seems so much worse in its consequences than in its intentions."
So, why is sin considered so bad that unforgiven sinners must experience such torment? To understand why, we must fully realize...
II. THE NATURE OF GOD AND THE PROBLEM OF SIN
A. God’s nature:
1. "You are not a God who takes pleasure in evil; with you the wicked cannot dwell. The arrogant cannot stand in your presence; you hate all who do wrong. You destroy those who tell lies; bloodthirsty and deceitful men the LORD abhors." (Ps 5:4-6)
- "your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear." (Is 59:1-2)
- God is supremely holy. His holiness makes any truce with sin impossible.
2. God is supremely just. His justice demands sin be punished properly.
3. Since we saw that the ultimate penalty for sin is eternal torment, this emphasizes how holy God truly is and how terrible sin must be.
B. Sin’s problem:
1. Sin places man in a terrible predicament.
a. Man must realize that according to Ro 3:23 "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."
b. The very nature of God being both holy and just demands a separation of sinners from God and punishment for our sins.
2. Man is unable to do anything by himself
a. There are no "works" that one can do to make himself innocent of the guilt of sin. Yet many people think that they save themselves by balancing their good deeds against their sins.
b. Sin of any kind is so repulsive to God’s holiness that His justice requires punishment.
Since we all sin, it appears we are all doomed to suffer God’s justice! Is there any way that He can be both holy and just and yet allow sinful man to be "reconciled" to Him? Yes...
III. JESUS IS THE WAY TO FORGIVENESS OF SINS
A. He is the propitiation for sin:
1. God has provided Jesus as a "propitiation" for our sins - "This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice (the propitiation) for our sins." (I Jn 4:10)
a. The word "propitiation" originally referred to an act or sacrifice that a man offered to appease the wrath of a god.
b. In the Bible, it refers to that which God has done for man, not man for himself.
2. God the Father offered His Son, Jesus, on the cross as a means to appease His justice.
a. By the act of Christ’s suffering the punishment due us for our own sins, we are forgiven of them.
c. By way of Christ’s death on the cross, we can come back to God, having been forgiven of our sins!
3. In this way, God is able to:
a. Preserve His holiness when we are in His presence (for our sins have been forgiven by the blood of Christ).
b. Maintain His justice (for our sins have been properly punished by the death of Christ).
c. All the while demonstrating His love, grace and mercy!
4. And so, Jesus is The Way to forgiveness of sins, for He has been made a "propitiation" for our sins!
B. Receiving Jesus as the way to forgiveness:
1. After His death for our sins, and following His glorious resurrection from the dead, Jesus charged His apostles with the commission to spread the good news.
2. We read in Acts how this Great Commission was carried out
a. In chapter two, we find Peter proclaiming the gospel for the first time
1) After presenting evidence that Jesus had truly risen from the dead and ascended to the right hand of God, Peter comes to climax of his sermon - "Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ." (Ac 2:36)
2) Evidently many people believed what Peter said - "When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, Brothers, what shall we do?" (Ac 2:37)
a) "What shall we do?"
b) What can anyone do who has realized that they are in need of salvation?
3) Follow the guidance of Peter - "Peter replied, Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." (Ac 2:38)
Conclusion: Jesus is The Way to forgiveness. He is the only way, for God has offered no other way to be reconciled to Him but through Jesus. Remember the words of Jesus: "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." No other way solves the dilemma between man’s sin and the holiness and justice of God!
Have you accepted Jesus in the way He commanded and His apostles taught? Have you made the decision to turn from your sins (repentance)? Have you trusted in Him for salvation (faith)? If not, why not do that right now? Let Jesus be your way to forgiveness today!
